BROOKLYN COMMUNITY BOARD 6
ECONOMIC/WATERFRONT/COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT & HOUSING
COMMITTEE MEETING
MARCH 20, 2017
Attendance:
R. Bashner E A. Devening A J. Li P D. Carcache E C. Dukuly A R. Luftglass P Sr. R. Cervone E V. Heramia P S. Tarpin A S. Cialek P A. Krasnow P
P = present, E = excused, A = absent
Guests:
A. DRUMMOND – REP. FOR BOROUGH PRESIDENT ADAMS
O. JONAS – REP. FOR STATE SENATOR MONTGOMERY
G. FIALA G. TREFRY J. BROWN
C. SALGUERO C. HULBERT M. MCCABE
J. QUADROZZI X. PERALTE D. CHERTOK
***MINUTES***
Presentation and discussion with representatives for the Brooklyn Borough President on the Borough President’s Brooklyn Working Waterfront strategic initiative to preserve and expand Brooklyn’s working waterfront to support job growth and employment for Brooklyn residents.
The meeting was called to order and Anthony Drummond from the Brooklyn Borough President’s office was introduced.
Housing and Transportation Policy
The Brooklyn Borough President plans to reinvigorate the waterfront. - Leisure - Jobs generation - Red Hook container port
Stakeholders planning – 2016 Task Force. The Borough President will prepare a white paper based on the Task Force’s findings. Specific objectives will be to keep and grow jobs at Container Terminal. Brooklyn maritime jobs – 2,500.
Benefits and challenges: Cross harbor – barges – container --- Tunnel
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Red Hook: pivot location – room for growth
Challenge: job expansion – tech; not harbor focused. - 90% of NY Harbor hard shipments go to New Jersey - 10% go to Brooklyn but EDC is not putting money into Red Hook container port. - EDC is also looking at shifting to Sunset Park and turning it into container port. It has a rail connection.
Weakness: - Lack of jobs - Facilities not maintained - Lack of training – Harbor School focuses on harbor, not harbor jobs. - Cruise terminal is under-used. - Limited ship repairs (Brooklyn Ship Repair) possibly for ferry ships once it is rolled out. Borough President Adams is looking at Red Hook and Bay Ridge for site.
Benefits: - Red Hook Container is working to maintain lease for an additional 10 years. Need to make clear that Container Port and jobs are possible.
Question: - When International Longshoreman’s Association - Jobs training for South Brooklyn - Job resources – pull from outside Brooklyn
Brooklyn may not have good relations with the ILA
Brooklyn Borough President – developers have gone to the Borough President looking at rezoning M-zones to residential.
Q: What are the businesses now? A: There are businesses – they come and go – but there is a fair amount. PortSide has a website listing: redhookwaterstories.org
Federal Department of Transportation trying to make a network of shipping across harbor.
Q: Can’t there be connection between local businesses (food, etc.) with shipping. A: Lack of planning initially – Atlantic Basin was not planned as a maritime facility.
Q: Is there a problem with lack of lease security? A: Not expressed but it makes sense that planning for maritime businesses is difficult.
Recommendations: 20+ initiatives. A. Create opportunities B. “Pipeline” jobs C. Education D. Protections E. Labor
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How to implement: - White paper by Spring 2017 - Get electeds on board - Letter to Governor to keep the container port
Congressman Jerrold Nadler is involved. - Not stirring towards it - Interest in cross harbor tunnel
Coordinate with rest of waterfront.
EDC has not been effective in utilizing their properties.
Port Authority Capital Plan: - Billions to Newark and New Jersey - Not investing in Brooklyn - Borough President is trying to get the Port Authority to put money into Brooklyn.
Electeds: Velázquez, Montgomery, Lander, Simon and Squadron.
Port Authority does not seem inclined.
New Business
PortSide: Interested in presenting to committee - In doing more PortSide - Trying to get EDC to give space at Pier 11, previously promised - Training programs - Services to work boats PortSide needs space – needs support
George Fiala: - EDC does not use their parking space effectively.
What about a Public Parking lot? – look more at spaces on the waterfront.
Joanne: Request for help to film maker looking for space.
Vilma Heramia: Carroll Gardens Association - 2 CGA ballots in Participating Budget: 1. Child care worker coop 2. Southwest Brooklyn Tenants Union
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
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